Art Gallery /Dolls Museum
The Nirmala Birla Art Gallery is located next to the Archaeological Galleries and exhibits a varied collection of art objects amassed and contributed by Mrs. Nirmala Birla, Chairperson of GPBAASRI, and other members of the Birla family over time. The art objects on display include porcelain, glass, plaster of paris, jade, crystal, sterling silver, mother of pearl, wood carvings and ivory.
Dolls Museum
The art gallery’s porcelain collection includes dolls, vases and wall plates among others. The numerous English-made Royal Doulton figures are unique while vases featuring Chinese and Japanese figures, and wall plates are to be noted. The collection includes the Lladro of Spain, Vier Tasca of Italy, and Danish and Russian-made items. Limited edition figures are also on display.
Dolls Museum
Glass Gallery
Glass Gallery
The glass collection has a varied range including scent bottles, huge vases, mirror boxes, flower pots, and jars of different makes and styles including Venetian, German and other cultures.
Limited edition art objects of precious and semi-precious stones and minerals like crystal, jade, verdite and quartz are exhibited. They come from globally famous manufacturers like Daum, Baccarat and Swarovski. The collection comprises birds, animals and tabletop figures, to name a few. Murano glass figures in different colours are the special attraction of the glass gallery.
Ivory paintings, figures and carvings comprise the centrepiece exhibit in the Nirmala Birla Art Gallery. They range from tiny hair clips to the larger-than-life carved elephant tusk. Ivory jewel boxes, tusks with religious themes, lamp shades, figures of deities, walking sticks and decorative heads are a few examples of what visitors can find. A large African elephant tusk and Indian elephant tusks carved with Ramayana and Krishnayana themes stand out. The gallery also displays ivory paintings by the late Iqbal Hussain, the famous artist of Hyderabad.
Sterling silver figures of Hindu deities like Krishna, Lakshmi and Ganesh – all made in Italy – form the prime collection of the gallery. Other items of interest include jewelled and woollen carpets, wall hangings and figures made of mother of pearl. The art gallery’s collection does not end here. There are many more that visitors can explore to travel back into the past and relive our rich cultural heritage.
